JCD principal reports on problem with 7th graders failing two or more subjects
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

The Jac-Cen-Del School Board heard from Jr. Sr. High School Principal Ray Ratledge at their March 15 meeting. He reported at the last grading period that 27 seventh grade students failed two or more subjects. This could create a real issue for next year if all 27 students are retained in the seventh grade.

Ratledge reviewed the ISTEP scores with the board and advised re-testing is occurring at the present time in English and math. Also, remediation is continuing before school for those students who have not passed the graduation exam.

High school teacher Andy O'Grady has applied to NASA for a grant to purchase science equipment. Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Sue Ellen Reed, sent a letter of support to be included in the grant application. Notification should be coming in early April.

Technology Director, Ron Back, explained the three-year technology plan. Back advised the board that thanks to the Gilmore and Golda Reynolds Foundation and the Rising Sun Regional Foundation, the school
has purchased two wireless laptop carts with software to have two mobile labs. Each cart is equipped with twenty laptop computers, an eight port switch, wireless access point and a laser printer. The students will have access to word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, database software, accelerated reading, library on-line catalog, geometry software and the Internet.

Opal Snyder, who began teaching the third grade at the elementary school in 1980, will retire at the end of the year. Melanie McClaren resigned as Spanish teacher.
Steve Narwold resigned as director of the summer recreation program effective immediately. Travis Rohrig will replace him with a stipend of $3,000. Mark Meyer will take over as athletic director beginning July 1, with an annual stipend of $7,500.

The following grants were accepted from the Gilmore and Golda Reynolds Foundation: $8,881 for science lab equipment, $1,500 for music stands, and $1,000 for the Accelerated Reader store. The old music stands will be donated to area churches that need them.

An auction will be held on April 7, on items no longer needed by the school.

All five board members were present: John Billman, Kathleen Dickman, Deanna Young, Charlie Hughes and Paul Hardy. Superintendent Bill Narwold and Attorney Tim Day were present to advise the board.

The next regular meeting of the Jac-Cen-Del Board of Trustees will be held on Tuesday, April 19, in the Jac-Cen-Del Elementary Library.